A Study on Determination of Antidiabetic Potential of Selected Medicinal Plants from Jharkhand

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic condition characterized by insufficient or absent insulin production from the pancreas. The development and progression of its long-term complications are closely linked to the extent of hyperglycemia and overall metabolic regulation. Effective management primarily focuses on reducing elevated blood glucose levels and limiting intestinal glucose absorption by inhibiting key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, such as alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of selected plants from Jharkhand viz. Dolichos trilobus, Atylosia cajanifolia, Vicia faba, and Vigna umbellata in comparison with standard Acarbose antidiabetic drug. Results revealed that Vicia faba had been the most effective ethanolic extract, showing strong inhibition and the lowest IC₅₀ value (51.90µg/mL) followed by ethanolic extract of Atylosia cajanifolia (68.40µg/mL). While, ethanolic extracts of Vigna umbellata (74.20µg/mL) and Dolichos trilobus (78.10µg/mL) have shown moderate alpha-amylase inhibition activity. Aqueous (aq.) extract of Vicia faba exhibited an effective alpha-amylase inhibition activity with lowest IC₅₀ value (61.30µg/mL) followed by aq. extracts of Atylosia cajanifolia (72.80µg/mL), Vigna umbellata (79.50 µg/mL), and Dolichos trilobus (85.40 µg/mL). In conclusion, Vicia faba showed the most potent alpha amylase inhibitory activity in both aqueous and ethanolic extractions. Hence, aqueous and/or ethanolic extracts of Vicia faba could be explored as natural antidiabetic agent in the development of natural antidiabetic formulations.